Equalizing mechanism



Noi. 10, 1.931. w. MANNS y V ,831,631

EQUALI Z ING MECI-IANI SM Filed Oct. l. 19 29 v Patented Nov. 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER H. MANNS, F ROCKY RIVER, OIHIO EQUALIZING MECI-IANISM Application filed October 1, 1929.

happens in speedy and uneven travel of the vehicle over the route, a part only of the ve hicle supports receivesthe shock directly from a centrallylocated area, the force of 1 momentum receiving and yielding quite unpleasantly to the shock which it is less able to resist, while the first arca met, merely transmitsthe force ofthe shock to the occupants of the vehicle.

It is an object of my invention to connect the ultimate supports of a vehicle, such as the axle or a part carried thereon, with the base frame for the body, by gear mechanism, one part being movable and the other or others relatively immovable with the station ary part, the gears of the mechanism being geared together by shafts Whereby the shock resulting from sudden lowering of a part of the frame will be divided, and distributed over the frame arca.

It is a further object of my invention to provide certain vertical racks mounted di-,

rectly upon a fixed portion of an auto truck,

usually the axle or a bracket extending from the axle, the racks extending upwardly by choice from such axle or brackt, to which gears secured to rotating shafts are held in mesh, are positioned at the corners of the Ve hicleframe, and each rack is made to mesh with two gears, on rotary shafts at right angles to each other. This results in the lowmechanism is the provision of a travelling block arranged to slide within friction parts by means of a link pivotally connected with one of the equalizing gears, for the purpose of increasing certain friction effects and Serial N o. 396,438.

therefore avoid too sudden and easy movement of the gears upon the racks.

While the illustrated arrangement and the description thereof will make clear the general operation of my improved mechanism, it is to be understood that my inventioh is by no means limited to the detailed mounting of the several parts as shown, but that the same inveritive idea may be expressed by other rel-' ative arrangements as will, be understo0d.

Reference is made in my descriptionto the following drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the under portion of a vehicle upon which my mechanism ls mounted with certain partsbroken away; Figure 2 is .a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2.;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a rack having a polygonal outline;

' Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of enmeshed gears one of which engages a rack having a beveled face, and various portions broken away;

Figure 6 is a vertical section of the friction device shown in the plane indicated by the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Figure 7 is a view of a modified construction of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, and So Figure 8 is a plan view showing a modified form of mounting a pair of gears and a rack upon the end of a front axle, other parts being broken away.

Referring to my improved structure, and assuming a conventional type of supporting frame comprising the usual sills 5 and the front and rear cross bars 6 and 7, respectively, it is quite practicable to connect the sills by the cross platos 8 and 9, and mount upon the latter the usual drive shaft 10 leading to the gear casing 11 from which the rear axle 12 may be driven in the conventional way. The forward axle 13 is mounted in a plane below the sills 5 as usual, and will have the ordinary connection with suitable steering mechanism, the details of this not being 'illustrated nor described. and no claim made to -any part thereof. As shown in Fig. 1, substantially parallel r0tary shafts 14; are

mounted just inside the sills in bearings beneath the plates '8 and 9 and in brackets tion of the frame or of the rigid parts conthan the axle 13,and thereby permite a lower 4g. will a nected therewith. These posts 20 are substantially polygonal in cross section and aflording two rack surfaces 21 which extend vertically and at right angles to each other. As shown in Fig. 1, the rack member 20 is geared to the shaft gears 18 and 19, at each corner of the Vehicle, such relation being shown clearly in the horizontal section of Fig. This meshing of the gears with the racks, results in the shafts 14 and 17 rotating in unison, and

'thereby the force of the weight of one corner of the vehicle compelling any one pair of the gears 18 and 19, as they descend while in mesh with a rack 20, to cause the other corners of the vehicle to similarly descend as their gears travel down"their corresponding racks, under the force applied by.the correr sponding shafts 14 and 17.

A very convenient and practic'able form of mounting the racks 20 in a fixedvertical 'position is shown in Fig. 2, in which the lower end of the rack or post 20 .is secured to,the rear axle 12 by curving thesaid end 22 about the axle, and securing the same thereo'n by the "provision of a metal'loop23 whose ends 24 are ;secured to the end 22 by bolts or other fa'steners 25which may detachably. connect the 4 rack 20 to the axle. If it is desired, the racks rock'slightly'upon the axle, ;but they w ways be held by suitable fastenings in mesh with the gears on the shafts 14 and 17 As shown in Figs.l, 2 and 3, the racks 20 will be mounted directly above the adj acent axle, but in Fig. 8, I have shown a relation of parts 20 map v in which a cross shaft 27 parallel to the front axle 13 is correspon to the rear of the axle and to the rear of the shaft27.

The construction shown in Fig. 8 includes a rearwardly extending bracket 26 mounted upon the axle 13 just within the sill 5, and having the rack member 20 fixedly mounted upon the rear wardly extending p0rtion 29 of such bracket, and the gears 18 and 19 mesh- 1ng with the front and innersurfaces, re-

(provided with the gear 18, but the spectively, 21, whereby the shafts 27 and 28 may rise and fall relative to the rack member as in the other forms, though the extension 29 of the bracket 26 isisomewhat lower gears 18 fixed on the ends of gears.

1ng shaft 28 bears its gear 19 far position of the vehicle body without striking the axle. It will be noted that the position of the racks is directly above the axlein the first three views.

A further modification of my improved mechanism for distributing the weight and shock over a greater, arca by m eans of a sepair of beveled gears fiXedupon the ends of shaftscorresponding to shafts 14 and 17 of the other forms, and a rack 30 fixed by means of a bracket 3l in vertical position above the A rear.axle"l2, the letter rack having a bevel surface 32 mcshing with the gear 33 directly, for positive connection with the said pair of Brackets 34 and 35 serve to mountsuch gearing. upon the sills and cross bar, as in the other form.

In theuse of my mechanism, it is desirable to increase to some extent the f1iction opposing thevertical movement of the gears 18 and 19 along the racks 20, or of the gears 33 upon the rack 30, and for this purpose I provide a retarding device peratmg in conjurction with one or more of the cars Which engage the racks. Exmples 0% such devices are shown in Figs. 6 and 7 aboi1t to be described.

In Figs. 1 and 6, a link 36 is pivoted to the A gear 18 at 37 to serve substantially in a crank movement, the opposite end of the link having angie bars 38 pivoted thereto for opening and closing movement a Compression spring 39 bars.

The L:bars 38 are pivoted together at 40, as shown in Fig. 6, the same pivotal connection serving to attach the link 36 to the Ls'where- ,ries of gears and racks, is shown in Fig. 5 as a hormally resisting the closing of such angle outer ends gradually separate to form an v opening therebetween. and whose inner ends 43 are fixedly attached to the edges of a cross bar 44 and to Outer extension 45 of a block 46 suitably mounted upon a cross bar 8 .ofthe machine frame, and apertured at 47 to perm 1t movement of the links 36 therethrough, so that rotation of the gear 18 .will reciprocate the L.members 38 with more or less friction by engagement with the bars 42. Y

In the structure shown in Fig. 7, a similar apertured block 48 receives movement of the link 36 through it, and has outwardly extendin arms 49 substantially parllel with. each o%lfer, the outer ends having inwardly benttips 50.to which inwardly extending members 51 are pivoted, the inner ends being members5l, forbing the letter apart against i the springs- 52 es moves inwardly,

this necessarily retarding the rotation of tliegear mechanism by friction betwee'n the block and the members 51.

' It is evidentthat the lowering of the vehicle body relative to the frame -67 Will will, by enga emeht with the fixed rack 20,

rotate the sha ts 14 and 17 and thereby rotate corresponding gears at other co1fners of the frame, thereby forcing the descent of difer: ent portions of the vehicle body equally,

- which is the object desired.

Even though the advantage of equalizing the descent of the body of the vehicle relative to the fixed portions thereof, and distributing the force of shock encountered over the arca of the vehicle frame is attained by the disclosed gearing mechanism, this mechanism may not fully overcome the suddcn relative movement of parts when some obstacle is encountered, since the gears may, if their bearings are well lubricated, travel rcadily in mesh with the racks. To meet this condition, the retard devices illustrated in Figs.

6 and 7 are provided, to limit the relative movement of the gears too easily. The use of the retarding devices'is. therefore. quite closely related to the equalizing mechanism illustrated in the other views.

It is evident that beveled gears may be substituted for the gears shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8, or the racks may be of the form shown in Fig. 4 or like that illustrated in Fig. 5, when used in conjunction with the beveled gears.

- 1 have therefore provided a practical equalizing mechanism for operation between a fixed foundation, represented in these views by vehicle axles and their supports, and the frameof the supported structure, shown in these views as parts 567 and the load carried thereby. It is to be noted that while I have illustrated the operation of my im proved mechanism as applied to a vehicle, it maybe,readily used between any foundation and.strjuture movable relative to the foundation',j'but not normally equalized at different portions of the foundation. Applicant does not consider that his invention is limited to vehicle application.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 2. Equalizing mechanism for evenly dis tributing over its area the force of shock encountered by the main frame of a vehicle movable vertically relative to its axles, A rcomprising racks having one end fixedly seoperate coordinately, since the descent of the .curedat spaced points upon said axles, gears gears 18 and 19 at any comer of the framemounted on said movable frame and in en- -gatgement with the said racks, and a pair of longitudinal and of transverse shafts all mounted for rotation in said frame and each carrying fixed upon its ends a pair of said from their ends lateral shafts mounted ro-- tatively in the vehicle frame and carrying on their ends gears meshing with said racks, n

and transverse shafts mounted in said frame substantially parallel with the axles and carrying on their ends transmission gears meshing with said racks, so that the said frame will have a vertical movement toward and from the axles evenlydistributed over its entire arca.

4. Equalizing mechanism for evenly distributing overthe area of a vehicle frame the shock resulting in the movement of said frame relative to the axles of the vehicle, comprising vertical racks fixedly secured at their lower ends to said axles at separated points, shafts mounted for rotation in said frame, certain of said shafts being substantially longitudinal and others transverse of said frame, and each carrying a plurality of transmission gears, certain of said gears engaging the said racks to.cause unitary rotation of both the longitudinal and transverse shafts as the frame moves relative to the racks and axles, and friction retarding means for certain of said gears carried by said frame. i

5. Equalizing mechanism connecting astationary foundation at spaced points; with a relatively movable support frame yieldingly k carried thereby, comprising gear1ng mechanism including rotary elements on the frame and fixed elements carried by the f0undati0n to distribute the relative movement of the rotary elements and fized elements over the said points of connection, and friction retarding means for said mechanism carried by said frame. y

6. Equalizing mechanism connecting a stationary foundation with a relatively movable support frame,, comprising spaced racks mounted on said f0undation engaged by transmission gears and rotary shafts carried by the frame and secured to certain of said gears to produce unitary rotation, and re frame relative to the axles of the vehicle,

tarding means aforertain of said gears including' asliding block" elemntjhiaving spring-pressed connection with a fixed part of said frame and anaetuating,link.pivoted at one end to one of said gears and detachably connected at the other end to. said block element.

7.- Equalizng mechanism for evenly distributing over the. arca of a vehicle frar 'ne the shock resulti'ng in the movement of said comprising vertical racks polygonal in cross section and bearing gear teeth on the plurality of surfaces fixedly secn'red to said axles at separateds points; spaced shatts monnted in said frame adjacentthsiiis and transverse shafts simiiarly mounted adj cent the axles, transmission gears fixediy monnted on. the ends (if said shafts, and apai1: 03E s'aid gears on a shaft longitudinal of and one transvei*se of said frame, respectively, 'engaging difierent gear surfaces of each rack.

- 8. Equalizing nechanism connectinga stationary founda'tion with a relatively movahle support frame, comprising vertical racks poiygonai in cross section mounte don said foundation in spaced relation and bearing gear teeth on a ioluraiity of 'surfaces, having their lower nds'fixedly secnred to said foundation and the racks extending upward to- Ward and beyond said frame, and gearing units rotatively anounted upon said frame and in engagement with the upper portions 'of.said racks for connecting together the several points bf the foundationbearing the sai-d spaced racks, so that the said support frame Will have a vertical movement toward and r'orn the oundation due to engagn1ent A of said'units with said racks, evenly distrib? uted over its entire area.

In witness where0fl have hereunto set my hand this 27 th day of September, A. D. 1929. WALTER H, MANNS. 

